Method for forming caulking tube cartridges

ABSTRACT

The specification and claims disclose a method and apparatus for performing two manufacturing steps substantially simultaneously during the formation of a caulking tube cartridge. In general, the disclosed method includes the steps of providing a generally cylindrical anvil member adapted to be received in the piston end of the caulking tube; providing a flange ring member including a cylindrical open-ended section having a radially-extending flange; and, providing a protective cap adapted to snap on the nozzle end of the caulking tube. The open-ended section of the flange ring is positioned in the piston end of the tube with the flange overlying the end of the tube. The cap is axially aligned with the tube, and a force is applied to move the tube onto the anvil member. The force is sufficient to snap the cap onto the tube. Thereafter, the tube is rotated and the flange portion is deformed into a bead engaging the end of the tube. The specification also discloses apparatus specifically suited for carrying out the above sequence of steps.

United States Patent 1191 Brothers et a1.

[ METHOD FOR FORMING CAULKING TUBE CARTRIDGES [75] Inventors: Don R.Brothers, Canfield; Edwin D.

Stewart, Austintown, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Century IndustriesCorporation,

New Waterford, Ohio [22] Filed: June 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1 478,443

[ June 3, 1975 Primary ExaminerC. W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerE. M.Combs Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sidney W. Millard 1571 ABSTRACT Thespecification and claims disclose a method and apparatus for performingtwo manufacturing steps substantially simultaneously during theformation of a caulking tube cartridge. In general, the disclosed methodincludes the steps of providing a generally cylindrical anvil memberadapted to be received in the piston end of the caulking tube; providinga flange ring member including a cylindrical open-ended section having aradially-extending flange; and, providing a protective cap adapted tosnap on the nozzle end of the caulking tube. The open-ended section ofthe flange ring is positioned in the piston end of the tube with theflange overlying the end of the tube. The cap is axially aligned withthe tube, and a force is applied to move the tube onto the anvil member.The force is sufficient to snap the cap onto the tube. Thereafter, thetube is rotated and the flange portion is deformed into a bead engagingthe end of the tube. The specifi cation also discloses apparatusspecifically suited for carrying out the above sequence of steps.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl. 53/14; 53/128; 53/284 [51] Int.Cl B65b 7/28; 1365b 3/00 [58] Field of Search 53/14, 42, 128, 284, 334

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,598 9/1915 Butler53/14 1,517,740 12/1924 Malmquist... 53/334 2,447,524 8/1948 Nordquistnm53/334 2,916,861 12/1959 Lehmann t 53/42 3,000,163 9/1961 Bellamy 53/1283,238,699 3/1966 Morton 53/284 3,295,672 1/1967 Lemelson 53/14 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,343,415 1/1963 France 53/14 44 55 fsoPATENTEUJUAB ms SHEET METHOD FOR FORMING CAULKING TUBE CARTRIDGESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The subject invention is directed toward thepackaging art and. more particularly. to a method and apparatus forapplying a protective cap on the nozzle end of a caulking tube whilesubstantially simultaneously therewith rolling a bead on the piston endof the tube.

In commonly-assigned copending application Ser. No. 418,600, filed Nov.23. 1973 for CAULK CAP, there is disclosed a protective cap adapted tobe snapped into position on the nozzle end of a caulking cartridge. Thecap is designed to seal the nozzle after the nozzle has been cut and aportion of the caulking compound used. In order to assure that the capprovides a good seal and is not easily dislodged during shipping orhandling. it must have a relatively tight, snap-on fit with the tube.

The tight fit required of the cap presents some problems duringmanufacture. Although the caps are designed to be removed and appliedmanually, this is not economically practical during high volumemanufacturing runs.

The subject inventor has developed a method and apparatus by which aprotective cap of the general type described can be readily applied orinstalled at substantially the same time as another step of the tubemanufacturing sequence is carried out. In particular, the tubes whichconstitute the body of the cartridge are generally formed of paperboard.Normally, during manufacture, a flange ring is placed in the piston endof the tube. The flange portion of the ring is then rolled over the endedge of the tube to form a protective and- /or reinforcing bead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The subject invention provides amethod and apparatus by which the two above-discussed manufacturingsteps can be combined into what is, in effect, a single operation. Inaccordance with one aspect of the invention, the method generallycomprises the steps of:

a. providing a generally cylindrical, rotatable anvil member adapted tobe closely received within the piston end of the caulking tube;

b. providing a flange ring member including a cylin drical, open-endedsection having a flange extending radially outwardly from one endthereof;

c. providing a protective cap adapted to snap on the nozzle end of thecaulking tube;

d. positioning the cylindrical open-ended section of the flange ringmember in the piston end of the tube with the flange overlying the endedge of the tube and axially aligning the cap with the tube;

e. axially aligning the piston end of the tube with the anvil andapplying sufficient axial force to move the anvil into the piston end ofthe tube and cause the cap to snap onto the nozzle end; and,

f. rotating the tube and the anvil and deforming the flange into a beadabout the piston end of the cartridge.

The preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the method constitutesa second aspect of the invention and generally includes a cylindricalanvil member mounted for rotation about its axis. Spaced from the anviland axially aligned therewith is a cooperating pis ton member having arecess which faces the anvil member and is adapted to receive the end ofthe protective cap. Actuating means are provided to drive the pistonmember toward the anvil under sufficient pressure to cause the anvil toenter the piston end of the cartridge and the cap to be snapped onto thenozzle end of the cartridge. Additionally, power means are provided torotate the cartridge while it is thus held between the anvil member andthe piston member. Also, rolling means are provided to roll the flangeinto a bead about the piston end of the cartridge during rotation of thecartridge.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the operations of cap applying andbead rolling are effectively combined into a single operation ormachine. This has the result of greatly simplifying the overallmanufacturing of the cartridges.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is the provision of amethod and apparatus which combines operations which were previouslycarried out in separate manufacturing operations.

A more specific object is the provision of an apparatus wherein themovement which positions the cartridge for the bead-rolling operationalso applies the protective cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects andadvantages will hecome apparent from the following description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a caulking tube orcartridge of the type which can be manufactured or assembled through theuse of the subject method and apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic in pictorial form of an apparatus formed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; and,

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the sequence of operations for the apparatus of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring moreparticularly to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose ofillustrating a pre ferred embodiment of the invention only, and not forthe purpose of limiting same, FIG. I shows the overall arrangement of acaulking tube or cartridge of the type which can be readily assembledthrough the use of the subject method and apparatus. As can be seen, thecaulking tube or cartridge assembly 10 comprises a main tubular body 12generally formed from a relatively heavy paperboard tube. At the upperend of the body 12 is a nozzle member 14 which is typically formed fromplastic and carried on a disc-like metal end wall 16 which has its outerperiphery I8 flanged over the upper end of the paperboard body I2. Inthe tube or cartridge assembly 10, a molded plastic cap 20 is releasablysnapped to the upper end of the body and arranged to provide a seal forthe nozzle 14. This particular cap structure is shown and described morefully in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 4l8,600, filed Nov. 23, 1973. Theseal means comprise an internal cylindrical portion 22 which extendsdownwardly from the interior surface of the cap 24. The cylindricalportion 22 is sized so as to tightly engage about the nozzle I4.Consequently, after the nozzle is open, replacement of the cap tightlyseals the open end of the nozzle. The cap is tightly but releasablyretained on the tube by a snap flange assembly 26 which engages aboutthe bead 18.

During original assembly of the tube-cap combination, the caps must besnapped onto the tube. Although the snapping can be accomplishedmanually, in largescale production of the assembly this can constitute asubstantial amount of work.

In accordance with the subject invention, the snapping of the cap ontothe end of the tube is combined with an additional manufacturing step toreduce the overall problems involved. In particular, about the lower endof the tube body 12 there is a rolled flange 3|). Flange 30 is a portionof a flange ring 32 which is slidably received within the piston member34. As is well known. the piston member 34 is adapted to slidelongitudinally in the tube under the influence of an associated caulkinggun plunger or the like. Movement of the piston 34. of course, causesthe caulking material within the body l2 to be expelled through thenozzle 14. During the manufacture of the tube, the flange member 32 hasan original shape shown in FIG. 1 with dash-dot lines. It should benoted that the rolled-over flange portion 30 merely extends outwardly ina radial direction and joins to the cylindrical center portion of theflange ring 32.

The overall sequence of operations used to assemble the cartridgeassembly can best be understood by reference to FIGS. 2-4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the overall apparatus used comprises a first plungermember 38 which is suitably mounted for vertical reciprocation. Theparticular manner in which the plunger member is driven is not importantto the subject invention; however, manual actuation such as through afoot operator or the like could be used if desired. The upper end of theplunger 38 includes a cup-shaped member 40 which is preferably mountedfor free rotation relative to the plunger 38. The cup-shaped member 40has a central opening 42 which is sized so as to freely but closelyreceive the outer end of the protective cap 20.

Axially spaced from the plunger 38 and axially aligned therewith is ananvil member 44. The anvil member 44 is rotatably mounted and includesdrive means 46 adapted to impart driving movement to rotate the anvil inthe manner shown. The lower end of anvil member 44 has a reduceddiameter portion 48 which is sized so as to be closely received withinthe flange ring 32. The length of the end portion 48 is preferablyslightly less than the depth D from the base of the flange ring to thewall of the plunger 34. As can be seen, the juncture between the reduceddiameter end portion 48 and the main body of the anvil provides ashoulder which can bear against the end face or flange portion of theflange ring 32.

Associated with the anvil 44 are one or more crimping rollers 50 whichare carried by suitable actuating means 52. The actuating means 52 arepositioned to drive the crimping rollers toward the anvil roller. Theouter periphery 54 of the crimping rollers 52 include a bead-forminggroove 55. The grooves 55 are arranged to as to deform theradially-extending portion of the flange ring into the bead 30.

FIGS. 3 and 4 best illustrate the use of the apparatus of FIG. 2. Inparticular, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation begins with the plungerspaced apart from the anvil 44 in the manner shown. To begin, a cap andcartridge body 10 are loosely assembled in the relationship shown andthe cap received in the opening 42 of the upper end of the plunger. Atthis time, the crimping rolls 50 are in a retracted position as shownWith the cap and cartridge body loosely assembled and posi tioned on theupper end of the plunger, the plunger is actuated upwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 4. The upward actuation by the plunger causes thetube to be moved onto the anvil 44. That is, the reduced diameter endportion 48 of the anvil 44 enters within the flange ring 32. At thistime or subsequent thereto, the driven anvil 44 rotates the tuberelative to the plunger 38. With the tube assembly 10 rotating, thecrimping rol lers 50 are driven inwardly to the position shown in FIG.4. During inward movement of the crimping rollers 50, theradially-extending flange of the flange ring 32 is caused to deflectover into a bead 30 which tightly grips the paperboard tube 12. As canbe appreciated, the movement which brings the tube assembly into properposition on the anvil also causes the cap to be snapped tightly into itsposition on the nozzle end of the tube.

After bead 30 has been formed, the crimping rolls are retracted.Subsequent thereto, the plunger is reciprocated to a lower position andthe assembled cartridge assembly 10 removed from the upper end of theplunger.

The invention has been described in great detail sufficient to enableone of ordinary skill in the packaging art to make and use the same.Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodimentwill occur to others upon a reading and understanding of thespecification and it is my intention to include all such modificationsand alterations as part of my invention insofar as they come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. A method for forming a caulking cartridge of the type including acylindrical body which holds the caulking material and having a nozzleend and a piston end, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a generally cylindrical rotatable anvil member adapted tobe closely received within the piston end of the caulking cartridge;

b. providing a flange ring member including a cylindrical open-endedsection having a flange extending radially outwardly from one endthereof;

c. providing a protective cap adapted to snap on the nozzle end of thecaulking tube;

d. positioning the cylindrical open-ended section of the flange ringmember in the piston end of the cartridge with the flange overlying theend edge of the body and axially aligning the cap with the cartridge;and,

e. axially aligning the piston end of the cartridge with the anvil andapplying sufficient axial force to move the anvil into the piston end ofthe cartridge to cause the cap to snap onto the nozzle end of the bodyand rotating the body and the anvil relative to a deforming means anddeforming the flange with said means into a bead about the piston end ofthe cartridge.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of deforming theflange into a bead by moving rotatable roller members radially inwardtoward the

1. A method for forming a caulking cartridge of the type including acylindrical body which holds the caulking material and having a nozzleend and a piston end, comprising the steps of: a. providing a generallycylindrical rotatable anvil member adapted to be closely received withinthe piston end of the caulking cartridge; b. providing a flange ringmember including a cylindrical open-ended section having a flangeextending radially outwardly from one end thereof; c. providing aprotective cap adapted to snap on the nozzle end of the caulking tube;d. positioning the cylindrical open-ended section of the flange ringmember in the piston end of the cartridge with the flange overlying theend edge of the body and axially aligning the cap with the cartridge;and, e. axially aligning the piston end of the cartridge with the anviland applying sufficient axial force to move the anvil into the pistonend of the cartridge to cause the cap to snap onto the nozzle end of thebody and rotating the body and the anvil relative to a deforming meansand deforming the flange with said means into a bead about the pistonend of the cartridge.
 1. A method for forming a caulking cartridge ofthe type including a cylindrical body which holds the caulking materialand having a nozzle end and a piston end, comprising the steps of: a.providing a generally cylindrical rotatable anvil member adapted to beclosely received within the piston end of the caulking cartridge; b.providing a flange ring member including a cylindrical openended sectionhaving a flange extending radially outwardly from one end thereof; c.providing a protective cap adapted to snap on the nozzle end of thecaulking tube; d. positioning the cylindrical open-ended section of theflange ring member in the piston end of the cartridge with the flangeoverlying the end edge of the body and axially aligning the cap with thecartridge; and, e. axially aligning the piston end of the cartridge withthe anvil and applying sufficient axial force to move the anvil into thepiston end of the cartridge to cause the cap to snap onto the nozzle endof the body and rotating the body and the anvil relative to a deformingmeans and deforming the flange with said means into a bead about thepiston end of the cartridge.